Atmospheric pollution study Guide
Distinguish between a primary and secondary pollutant.
A primary pollutant is an air pollutant emitted directly from a source. A secondary pollutant is not directly emitted as such, but forms when other pollutants (primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere.
Discuss how regulatory practices, conservation practices, and alternative fuels can be used to reduce air pollutants.
Alternative fuels - Many fuels or power sources derived from resources other than petroleum produce less pollution than gasoline or diese regulation;: reducing toxic emissions from industrial sources; reducing emissions from vehicles and engines through new stringent emission standards and cleaner burning gasoline; conservation;Using non-toxic or less toxic chemicals as cleaners, degreasers and other maintenance chemicals. Implementing water and energy conservation practices. Reusing materials such as drums and pallets rather than disposing of them as waste
Why is acid precipitation so hard to control? Why is it not always just a local problem?
Because of the wider variety of sources of nitrogen, because of global ecological pollutions, such as fish kills, dying forests, dead of lakes and other marshes, and damage to monuments and other historic artifacts
How can humans reduce the amount of photochemical smog that is produced?
Drive less. ... Take care of cars. ... Fuel up during the cooler hours of the day—night or early morning. ... Avoid products that release high levels of VOCs. ... Avoid gas-powered yard equipment, like lawn mowers.
Discuss some possible solutions for acid precipitation
Filter and detoxify the water used by the factories before returning it to the rivers. Reduce the emission of pollutant gases by industry. Encourage the production and use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Reduce the energy consumption of factories and companies.
What environmental conditions would increase the formation of tropospheric ozone and photochemical smog? What environmental conditions would decrease the formation of both?
Higher temperatures tend to increase emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) from some soils and release of biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vegetation, leading to greater background concentrations of ozone in the troposphere. reduce the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels Using less air in combustion
Discuss the impact of indoor air pollutants on human health
Household air pollution exposure leads to noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer
Discuss the causes and effects of the indoor air pollutants listed: Carbon monoxide (CO), Particulates (PM), Radon, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), tobacco smoke
Most indoor air pollution comes from sources that release gases or particles into the air. Things such as building materials and air fresheners give off pollution constantly. Irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer.
Discuss how photochemical smog is formed. Make sure to include how ozone is related to this.
Photochemical form is formed by a complex series of chemical reactions involving sunlight, oxides of nitrogen, and volatile organic compounds that are present in the atmosphere as a result of air pollution. These reactions often result in the formation of ground level ozone and certain airborne particles.
List examples of pollutants released into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels.
carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulates. Stoves, incinerators, and open burning produce carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, as well as particulates.
List the reactions that occur to create secondary pollutants from primary ones
carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, particulates, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals. Secondary pollutants form from primary pollutants. They include photochemical smog, ozone near the ground, and evaporation of chemicals.
At what time of day are the most nitrogen oxides produced in cities? At what time of day does ozone concentration peak?
during the day time. With morning traffic, nitrogen oxide emissions cause ambient concentrations to increase to values that are much larger than late night values . Ozone levels are most likely to be elevated after noon through early evening on hot, sunny days.
What are the negative human health and environmental impacts associated with photochemical smog?
hinder photosynthesis, thus inhibiting plant growth.painful irritation of the respiratory system, reduced lung function and difficulty breathing;
How is sick building syndrome addressed?
local exhaust ventilation may be appropriate to exhaust contaminated air directly from the building.
Describe and diagram a thermal inversion. Where are these typically found?
meteorological phenomenon that develops when cool air is trapped at the ground under a layer of warm air. An inversion is present in the lower part of a cap. The cap is a layer of relatively warm air aloft (above the inversion).
Define VOC's. Where do these come from and what are the effects associated with them?
often components of petroleum fuels, hydraulic fluids, paint thinners, and dry cleaning agents. VOCs are common ground-water contaminants. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches and loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, or central nervous system
Describe natural (non human) sources of CO2.
outgassing from the ocean, decomposing vegetation and other biomass, venting volcanoes, naturally occurring wildfires, and even belches from ruminant animals
Describe what the Clean Air Act Accomplished.
reduced key air pollutants that cause smog and particulate pollution by more than 60%. At the same time the economy more than tripled. And Since the Clean Air Act Amendments in 1990, electricity production is up and prices are down
What are the possible negative human health impacts that can be associated with thermal inversion?
respiratory problems
Describe natural (non human) sources of particulates.
sea salt, dust (such as airborne soil), and pollen, but it also includes material from volcanic eruptions and particles formed from natural gaseous precursors (eg sulphate
What is sick building syndrome? What types of buildings are most susceptible?
situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. buildings with poor ventilation, such as schools, offices, and public spaces.
What are the human health and environmental impacts of noise pollution?
stress related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and lost productivity. erious damage to wildlife. Experts say noise pollution can interfere with breeding cycles and rearing and is even hastening the extinction of some species.
Diagram out the formation of acid rain.
the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, where they react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to become sulfuric and nitric acid respectively.
List the five layers of the atmosphere. Give general characteristics of the two layers closest to earth's surface.
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere The troposphere is the lowest layer of our atmosphere.; stratosphere is characterized by a rise in temperature with altitude directly above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. high temperature and large variability, in response to changes in solar ultraviolet radiation and solar-driven geomagnetic activity. has gases like hydrogen and helium, but they are very spread out. There is a lot of empty space in between. There is no air to breathe, and it's very cold.
What are the major anthropogenic sources of sulfur dioxide?
uel combustion from power generation and industrial processes.
Describe noise pollution and its sources.
unwanted sounds that disrupt normal sound in the environment. Noise pollution often emanates from railroads, road traffic, aircraft, loud music, construction sites, and industrial activities.
Discuss the root causes of acid precipitation and the environmental effects
volcanic eruptions. More commonly, however, acid rain is due to human activities. Burning fossil fuels, manufacturing, oil refineries, electricity generation, and vehicles all release sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. wet deposition. Wet deposition causes erosion that affects ecosystems.
Outline the formation of photochemical smog.
when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react to sunlight, creating a brown haze above cities. It tends to occur more often in summer, because that is when we have the most sunlight.
